James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator for his contribution. The intention of this Bill is to bring about the merger of the PRA, Ordnance Survey Ireland and the Valuation Office. The provisions of the Bill include the transfer of the current functions of these bodies into Tailte Éireann. It is not envisaged at this point to expand the current functions of the existing bodies during the merger process. As part of the pre-legislative scrutiny process for this Bill, the Joint Committee on Housing, Local Government and Heritage recommended that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage engage with the Department of Justice to consider integrating the PSRA with Tailte Éireann. I thank the Senators for their valuable contributions to the pre-legislative scrutiny process. The primary role of the PSRA is to regulate property service providers, namely auctioneers, estate agents, letting agents and property management agents. It is considered that the functions of the PSRA are not sufficiently closely aligned with the functions of the bodies already identified for Tailte Éireann, being the registration of deeds and title, State surveying and the valuation of rateable property. The Taoiseach, as head of Government under Article 13 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, is responsible for the allocation of functions between Ministers and for the overall organisation of the Government. Any changes to the functions are a matter for the Taoiseach and are not a matter to be dealt with in this legislation. Of course, these matters are always kept under review. Under the circumstances, I am opposing the amendment.